Mechanical packaging and method for a single current sensor integrated into an electricity meter with a disconnect switch
First Claim
1. An electricity meter comprising:
- a single current sensor comprising a toroidal coil having an inner bore extending substantially centrally therethrough, the inner bore having a first end and a second end;
a first current conductor and a second current conductor, wherein each of the first and second current conductors has a first end and a second end, the first end of each current conductor forming a respective one of a pair of line-side or load-side blades of the meter; and
a disconnect switch having a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, one of the pairs of contacts being electrically connected to respective second ends of the first and second current conductors, and the other pair of contacts forming opposite load-side or line-side blades of the meter,wherein the first current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the second current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade, such that during operation of the meter electrical current passing through the first and second current conductors passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electricity meter comprises a single current sensor with a toroidal coil that has an inner bore extending substantially through the sensor. The meter also has two current conductors that form one of a pair of line-side blades of the meter. The electricity meter also has a disconnect switch with a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts. One of the pairs contacts is electrically connected to the current conductors. The other pair forms a respective load-side blade of the meter. One current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the other current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade so that current passing through the conductors passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction.
21 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electricity meter comprising:
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a single current sensor comprising a toroidal coil having an inner bore extending substantially centrally therethrough, the inner bore having a first end and a second end; a first current conductor and a second current conductor, wherein each of the first and second current conductors has a first end and a second end, the first end of each current conductor forming a respective one of a pair of line-side or load-side blades of the meter; and a disconnect switch having a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, one of the pairs of contacts being electrically connected to respective second ends of the first and second current conductors, and the other pair of contacts forming opposite load-side or line-side blades of the meter, wherein the first current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the second current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade, such that during operation of the meter electrical current passing through the first and second current conductors passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of assembling an electricity meter comprising:
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positioning a single current sensor comprising a toroidal coil having an inner bore extending substantially centrally therethrough, the inner bore having a first end and a second end; positioning a first current conductor and a second current conductor, wherein each of the first and second current conductors has a first end and a second end, the first end of each current conductor forming a respective one of a pair of line-side or load-side blades of the meter; orienting the second end of each current conductor so that it extends through the inner bore of the current sensor, such that the second end of the first current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the second end of the second current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade; and positioning a disconnect switch having a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, electrically connecting one of the pairs of contacts to the respective second ends of the first and second current conductors, and the other pair of contacts forming a respective opposite load-side or line side blade of the meter; and wherein during operation of the meter, electrical current is configured to pass through the first and second current conductors within the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 17)
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11. An electricity meter comprising:
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a single current sensor comprising a toroidal coil having an inner bore extending substantially centrally therethrough, the inner bore having a first end and a second end; a first current conductor and a second current conductor, wherein each of the first and second current conductors has a first end and a second end, the first end of each current conductor forming a pair of line-side blades of the meter; and a disconnect switch having a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, one of the pairs of contacts being electrically connected to the respective second ends of the first and second current conductors, and the other pair of contacts forming load-side blades of the meter, wherein the first current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the second current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade, such that during operation of the meter electrical current passing through the first and second current conductors passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification